DeSean Jackson now a free agent after Eagles release
Former Cal star receiver DeSean Jackson was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday after playing in only eight of the team’s 32 games the past two seasons.
The 34-year-old Jackson, who was acquired from Tampa Bay in 2019, used social media to signal his excitement about finding a new team.
“Looking forward to my next chapter. Philadelphia it’s always Love. Appreciate Everything,” Jackson posted on his Instagram story.
One of the league’s biggest deep threats, Jackson has 24 touchdowns of 60 yards or more, which is the best in NFL history. His 17.4 yards per catch average is No. 6 in NFL history.
Golf
BURNS EXTENDS LEAD WITH RECORD DAY >> Sam Burns tied the 36-hole scoring record of 12-under-par 130 at Riviera Country Club in building a five-shot lead halfway through the Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades, Cal.
Burns followed his opening 7-under 64 with a 66 on Friday as the 24-year-old seeks his first career PGA Tour victory at one of the Tour’s most iconic venues.
He will begin the third round five strokes in front of world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Jason Kokrak, Tyler McCumber and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann. Another shot off the pace are ex-Cal star Max Homa, Wyndham Clark and Jordan Spieth. MICKELSON SHOOTS FOR CHAMPIONS RECORD >> Phil Mickelson will play in the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Ariz., next week, seeking to become the first golfer in history to win his first three PGA Tour Champions events.
In fact, a win would make Mickelson the only person ever to win the first three tournaments on any PGA Tour-sanctioned tour.
The Cologuard Classic is set for Feb. 26-28 at Omni Tucson National.
Mickelson turned 50 in June, making him eligible for the Champions tour, and won the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National in August and the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in October in his debut events.
College basketball
EX-CAL STAR TRUITT DIES >> Ansley Truitt, a prolific scorer and rebounder for the Cal men’s basketball team in the early 1970s and the Golden Bear team MVP as a senior in 1972, passed away on Feb. 13 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 70.
A 6-foot-9 center who earned prep All-American honors at Woodrow Wilson High School in San Francisco, At Cal, Truitt earned first-team All-Pac-8 honors and served as a team captain as a senior in 1971-72 when he averaged a teamleading 18.8 ppg and 13.2 rpg.
Truitt still holds several school records, including most total rebounds in a season with 382 in 1971-72. His 13.2 rpg that year rank No. 2 in school history, as do his 940 career rebounds and five career 20-rebound games.
Truitt scored 1,384 points during his three seasons in a Golden Bear uniform, which still ranks 16th in school history (third at the time). For his career, Truitt averaged 17.3 ppg and 11.8 rpg.
After his graduation, Truitt played with the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA during the 1972-73 season. He went on toe play in France to begin a 16-year overseas career.
NO. 10 ARIZONA WOMEN HOLD OFF CAL >> Aari McDonald scored 28 points and No. 10 Arizona (15-2, 13-2 Pac-12) had to earn a hard-fought victory against California (0-14, 0-11) this time on the way to its seventh straight win, beating the winless Golden Bears 59-50.
McDonald shot 11 for 23 in Arizona’s fourth straight win since four consecutive games were postponed. Arizona closed on a 6-0 run as Cal went cold, finishing 1 for 10 without scoring over the final 2:21.
The Bears have had nine games postponed and this was their first contest since Feb. 7 after missing last weekend’s scheduled trip to face the Oregon schools.
Dalayah Daniels scored 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting to go with 10 rebounds leading scrappy Cal, which has just eight healthy scholarship players.